ばかり
ばかり
particle
just, only, nothing but
1.
just (did something)
Indicates an action that just occurred (with た form).
今来たばかりです。
I just arrived.
始まったばかりだから、まだ大丈夫。
It just started, so it's still fine.
買ったばかりの本をもう読み終わった。
I already finished reading the book I just bought.
起きたばかりで眠いから、コーヒーを飲みたい。
I just woke up and I'm sleepy, so I want to drink coffee.
日本に来たばかりの頃は、日本語が全然分からなくて大変だった。
When I had just come to Japan, I couldn't understand Japanese at all and it was really hard.
2.
only, nothing but
Indicates limitation or excess of something.
肉ばかり食べている。
I eat nothing but meat.
文句ばかり言わないで。
Stop doing nothing but complaining.
甘いものばかり食べていると、体に悪いよ。
If you eat nothing but sweets, it's bad for your health.
遊んでばかりいないで、そろそろ勉強しなさい。
Stop just playing around and start studying already.
あの人は自分のことばかり考えていて、周りの人の気持ちが分からない。
That person thinks only about themselves and doesn't understand how those around them feel.
ばかり is a particle with two main uses: indicating something just happened, or indicating excess/limitation.
TWO MAIN MEANINGS:
1. Just (did): Verb-た + ばかり
2. Nothing but / only: Noun + ばかり
PATTERN 1 - "JUST DID":
- 来たばかり: just arrived
- 買ったばかり: just bought
- 始まったばかり: just started
PATTERN 2 - "NOTHING BUT":
- 肉ばかり食べる: eat nothing but meat
- 遊んでばかりいる: do nothing but play
- 文句ばかり言う: do nothing but complain
VARIANTS:
- ばかり: standard
- ばっかり/ばっか: casual spoken forms
NOTE:
The "nothing but" usage often carries a negative or critical nuance.